Brad Thompson saves the day

Is there a statistic for a guy who comes in, usually in long relief, and just continues to give his team a chance to win, often times following a short start (whether because of injury or poor performance)?

If so, I’d be willing to bet that Brad Thompson would have a favorable number in that column.

Chris Carpenter made his first start after returning from Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow last night against the Braves, and while Carp arguably did very well given a short rehab assignment and a still-developing command of his pitches, Thompson came in and threw 2 2/3 innings of really good baseball to give the Cards the opportunity to win.

That led me to chasing down just what Thompson has meant to this team, in a wildly varying role, from cleaning up the mess of Cardinal starters to mopping up late innings in games already ruined by the staff.  I expected to see decent success from Thompson - what I found is that he has been wildly successful in his “role”, in my opinion.

Since being recalled (this essentially encompasses the month of July), Thompson is 3-0 with a 3.32 ERA in 19 innings pitched over 8 appearances.  On the surface, that doesn’t seem all that special, until you consider the situations he’s been thrust into.

Brad cleaned up for Todd Wellemeyer on the first of July, throwing four innings in relief and only allowing one run on two hits, with the team unable to overcome the six runs surrendered by Wellemeyer.  Point being, Thompson didn’t let the wound open up any further, the offense just couldn’t put enough together.  I would call that a successful outing.

On July 9th, the fabled Mark Mulder start, Thompson came in after Mulder’s 1/3 of an inning and proceeded to go 4 1/3 giving up 2 runs on 5 hits.  The Cardinal offense was feeble that night, mustering only two runs against a rookie left-hander for the Phillies.  Two was enough to tie the game, making Thompson’s outing all the more worthwhile - before the bullpen failed him and surrendered two runs to suffer the loss.

During the San Diego sweep, on July 18, Thompson this time bailed out Braden Looper (who gave up six runs in three innings) by giving the Cards a solid 2 1/3 with only one run scored.  This time Thompson was backed up by a rare solid bullpen outing, with the arms behind him holding the Padres scoreless for the remaining 3 2/3.  Thompson stood to take the loss if that seventh run had held for the Pads, but who else would’ve been able to give that performance coming in in the fourth inning?  “Enough to win the game” has really been an important part of this team’s success this year.

He followed that outing up two days later by accomplishing the blown save-win double.  Thompson this time came on in the ninth inning to clean up Jason Isringhausen’s mess, and despite allowing the first batter to double and hang an inherited run on Izzy, Thompson closed out the final two outs after an intentional pass to get the Cards out of the inning and preserve the tie.  Aaron Miles hung the grand slam on the Padres in the bottom, and Thompson got the win.

July 26th against the Mets, after pitching two innings the night before, Thompson was called upon in the 13th inning, with really no one left behind him, to go as long as he could.  It only took one perfect inning before the Cardinals scored, and another perfect inning to get the win.

That brings us back to last night, taking over for Carp, this time not because of poor performance, but just to give Carpenter’s rebuilt elbow a break as he continues to get his stamina back.

Thompson has been a stalwart in the Cardinal bullpen since coming back from the disabled list and Memphis.  He goes out, when called upon, regardless of situation, tired or not, and continues to produce.  He’s prone to a home run now and then, he’ll give up runs - but on a regular basis, he keeps the team in games that they still have a chance to win when he enters.

Sure, you could argue that Thompson should get some starts - you could argue that he should be a regular in middle relief - but this role seems to suit him well, he seems comfortable with it.  It’s a role that most teams hope they never have to utilize, but the Cardinals do not have that luxury.

Kudos Brad Thompson.  Here’s hoping that you get more work in a middle relief role soon.

A fun little tool

I just added a new little function to the site that will allow you, the reader, to receive an e-mail every time someone else comments on a post that you have already left a message on.

Just check the little box below the comments that talks about receiving an e-mail next time someone comments - and BAM - you will be kept up to date via e-mail on that comment thread.

Hopefully this will be useful for some or all of you.

Thanks for reading.


Filed Under Site Updates

Leave a Comment | Posted on July 31, 2008 by PHE | Subscribe!

My bold Carpenter prediction

Prompted by loyal reader StLCards, here is my Chris Carpenter prediction for tonight:

6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 6 K

I don’t know if Carp is on a pitch count, so that could radically affect the line.

I think he does just enough to give the Cards a chance to win, which I think they would be ecstatic with out of tonight’s start.


Filed Under Chris Carpenter

1 Comment | Posted on July 30, 2008 by PHE | Subscribe!

A tale of two offenses

Which one will show up tonight?

The Cards’ offense has recently exploded for ten runs on Saturday versus the Mets (albeit in extra time) and for twelve last night versus the Braves (albeit versus a rookie, stop-gap starter).  Last night they were even without their slugging centerfielder, Rick Ankiel.  That could be an ongoing absence, in this fan’s opinion.

The offense that showed up Saturday and last night doesn’t seem to need improvement.  They were getting production up and down the order.  Joe Mather finally showed signs of being comfortable at the plate in a Major League at-bat.  Albert Pujols continued to show why he is perhaps the greatest hitter in the league.  It was a complete effort up and down the lineup.  It even instilled confidence in Braden Looper to go out and throw seven solid innings.

Here’s the problem - that offense has been scarce lately.  Not only that, Viva El Birdos has laid wood (so to speak) to the Cardinal offense.  The Cardinals, on a whole, have basically faced the worst pitching in the league, for the season.  VEB breaks it down into pitchers’ OBP against and pitchers’ batting average against, and the Cards have high ranking hitters on both lists.  I highly recommend you read the article, I really can’t do it justice by summing up here.

So what to do then?

Forget Matt Holliday.  The price is going to be too high, and this team has maintained from the start that 2009 and beyond are really their target years.  But, fans expect the team to do what they can to win when they have the chance, right?

Right.  Here’s your answer.  Sign Barry Bonds.  I’ve been against it from the first time it was mentioned, but desperate times call for desperate measures.  He won’t cost you anything in terms of prospects or salary for this season.  His agent says he can be ready in seven to ten days.  Book it.  He can’t be any worse in the outfield than Chris Duncan.  Who knows when Ankiel will be back (these abdominal things seem to haunt the Cardinals), so you plug Bonds into left field, Skip Schumaker plays center, Ryan Ludwick in right.  Mather backs them up.

Next, you trade Clayton Mortensen, Tyler Greene, and Nick Stavinoha to Detroit for Edgar Renteria.  The Cards can reasonably assume Edgar’s contract for this season, and can buy out his $11M club option for $3M in the off-season if they decide not to carry him any further.  I’ve always thought that Edgar blossomed a little bit in St Louis, given the love of the fans.  He would certainly be an upgrade up the middle over Cesar Izturis.  For that matter, find anyone to take Iz2 off your hands, and Renteria’s salary is that much more palatable.

Finally, trade Mike Parisi to the Pirates for John Grabow.  Or to the Mariners for Arthur Rhodes.  Or to the Royals for Ron Mahay.  Whatever you do, get a left-hander who can be successful against left-handed hitters.  Parisi could be substituted for any other player in the organization who similarly seems to have already fallen out of favor with both fans and management.  Assuming Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright both come back healthy, the bullpen gets natural help from rotation demotions on the right side - add a lefty so LaRussa doesn’t have to depend on Randy Flores - and all might resolve itself.

These moves keep your top, core organizational prospects in tact.  They might be a little far-flung, but the deals that have been made this trade deadline have lacked a lot of pizazz, in my opinion.

Ok, face the music time.  I am probably shooting for the moon here and barely hitting the roof.  Punch holes in my theories.  Tell me I’m crazy.  I love irrational hot stove talk.

Sunday Spitballs - 07.27.08 (The Monday Version)

Sorry for my tardiness with this one, a long weekend out of town left me exhausted and unable to stomach writing about the week that was in Cardinal baseball.  Alas, here we go…

Sigh.


Filed Under Sunday Spitballs

10 Comments | Posted on July 28, 2008 by PHE | Subscribe!

Let’s play Tony LaRussa

Note:  Preprogrammed thread written prior to Friday night’s game - so this does not take into account any further bullpen implosions.

Assume no trades are made - make any assumptions you like with players already in the organization.  Set your ideal pitching staff for the rest of the season.

Mine is like this:

SP Chris Carpenter
SP Adam Wainwright
SP Kyle Lohse
SP Todd Wellemeyer
SP Joel Pineiro

Spot starts, long relief - Brad Thompson
Middle relief, mop up - Jason Isringhausen
Middle relief, left-handed specialist - Ron Villone
Middle relief, set-up - Kyle McClellan
Set-up - Russ Springer
Set-up - Ryan Franklin
Closer - Braden Looper

So I’m assuming that Carp and Waino will return to contribute.  I’m sending Randy Flores to Memphis, and sending out Boggs and Jimenez to reactivate Carp and Waino.

At the next sign of any trouble or ineffectiveness (I know, he’s already had lots of shots), I send Isringhausen down and bring up either Flores, Mark Worrell, or Anthony Reyes.

If Looper is not working at closer, McClellan is next in line.  He can get out both righties and lefties, which I think is a good attribute for someone trying to lock down a game.  Perez is next in line after those two guys at the closer slot.

I try to avoid using Mitch Boggs, Jaime Garcia, or Mike Parisi anymore this year.  Those guys need to remain starters and get their work as such, quit messing with their routines and confidence by yo-yoing them between starting and relief.

Alright, I’m sure this will be subject to much skepticism and ridicule - what’s your ideal pitching staff setup?

Cub farmhand loses his mind - maybe his freedom

Leave it to the Cubs organization to do something to put the Cardinals’ problems into perspective.

Peoria pitcher Julio Castillo was arrested following a brawl in Peoria’s game Thursday night with Dayton after he fired a ball toward the Dayton dugout.  Said ball skipped off of the dugout and injured a fan, who had to be taken to the hospital.

Castillo now faces felony charges that not only put his career in serious jeopardy, but probably his ability to remain in the United States.

Here’s amateur video of the brawl, the ball-throwing incident occurs right around 0:24 (my apologies for some off-color language contained in the video):


Filed Under Non-Cardinals

2 Comments | Posted on July 25, 2008 by PHE | Subscribe!

Help Wanted: Closer

I don’t know for sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see that sign hanging outside of Busch Stadium today.

I’m going to be brief, for fear that I will let loose an expletive-filled tirade about the Cards’ failure to finish games in this series, but there’s no doubt those four games were painful.

They hurt.

A four-game sweep at the hands of the team chasing (and now long past) you in the standings, three of which should have reasonably won.  Say the Cards only blow one of the games, they still come away with a split.

CC Sabathia was virtually unhittable, that one can be written off as just getting beat.

Ryan Franklin and the Cardinal bullpen on the other hand, have been very hittable.  Embarrassingly hittable.

Franklin in particular, since assuming the closer’s role, has a 5.46 ERA and hitters are putting up a very strong .986 OPS against him.  .986!  Sure, Jason Isringhausen was bad, and his ERA was much higher when he was put on the DL - but even he was keeping hitters to a .906 (I know, I know, that’s still bad).

Painful.  No words can really describe it.  That said, I can’t say that I didn’t expect it.  When Ryan Braun came to the plate, it was all too perfect.  It was going to happen again.

I’ll be away for the weekend - might not see any games - will keep track of scores, and hope for trade news.

In the meantime, it will be interesting to see how Tony spins this one.  Is Franklin still your closer?  Does Isringhausen get reinstalled by default?  Is it time to let Chris Perez sink or swim?

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